The press release just went out: The Warriors are announcing the addition of Jerry West…

West will be introduced Tuesday. That’s a must-attend. One interesting point: He’s joining the executive board, which, to my knowledge, is made up of several of the minority investors.

Is West a virtual minority investor now? Is he getting a (small) percentage? I don’t know.

(The phrase “wide-ranging capacity” is key. West is clearly being looked at as someone who can help out in many areas, not just purely basketball decsions.)

The press release…

HALL-OF-FAMER JERRY WEST JOINS WARRIORS AS EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Former NBA Star & Executive Set To Join Warriors In Wide-Ranging Capacity

OAKLAND, CA – The Golden State Warriors have added Jerry West as one of the club’s Executive Board members, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

West, who will be introduced to the Bay Area media on Tuesday, joins Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, Vivek Ranadivé, Erika Glazer, Fred Harman, Bob Piccinini and Bruce Karsh on the club’s Executive Board.

West, 72, will assist the Warriors’ ownership group and represent the organization in a wide variety of team-related functions in his role with the club.

The position will encompass various areas and responsibilities, ranging from basketball operations to business, sponsorship and marketing endeavors.

He will report directly to owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber and will travel to the Bay Area frequently while maintaining his Los Angeles-based residence.

“We are elated to add Jerry West and his incredible list of credentials to our Executive Board,” said Warriors Owner Joe Lacob. “His accomplishments in this business as both a player and executive are almost beyond comprehension and certainly well-documented. He’s simply a winner and, quite honestly, you can never have too many of those in your organization. After spending time with him in recent weeks, including a terrific meeting two weeks ago that included Peter Guber, Larry Riley, Bob Myers and our entire Basketball Operations staff, it’s quite evident that he still has an unrelenting passion for the game and the business. His vast experiences, knowledge, credibility and intuition will benefit our organization on many different levels. We’re fortunate that we will have the ability to tap into his expertise on a wide-array of subjects on both the basketball and business side of the operation and I would expect that he will be a valuable representative on many fronts.”

“I’m really pleased that we were able to add someone the caliber of Jerry West to our organization,” said Warriors’ Co-Owner Peter Guber. “He has earned great respect in all circles, including the entire entertainment field, and his business savvy will serve us well and prove invaluable. Overall, his career has been nothing short of remarkable and his name alone has become synonymous with winning and success. I could sense his love for the game and tremendous passion during our meetings in recent weeks and I think his attitude will be infectious. He will be a tremendous resource for us in this particular role and it is also a position that suits Jerry very well at this stage of his life.”

“I’m excited about this opportunity and, quite frankly, humbled that the new ownership group with the Warriors inquired about my interest in joining the organization in this capacity,” said West. “I’ve had the good fortune to work for two wonderful owners, Dr. Jerry Buss and Michael Heisley, as an executive and I know that you must have a commitment at the top to succeed. I sense that is certainly the case with the Warriors or I would not have made this decision. This role is appealing at this particular time because it will provide me an opportunity to remain close to the game and contribute to an organization in a meaningful, all-encompassing manner. It had to be the right situation with the right group of people and this opportunity certainly meets those criteria. I’ve been extremely impressed with Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and the members of the Basketball Operations staff during our conversations and I’m looking forward to working with them and other members of the Warriors’ organization as we move forward.”

A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, West was a 14-time NBA All-Star during his illustrious 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is one of only seven players in NBA history to play at least 14 seasons in the league and be selected as a member of the All-Star team every year. Additionally, he ranks 15th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (25,192 points) and guided the Lakers to nine (9) trips to the NBA Finals and one NBA Championship (1972) as a player. Overall, he averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds during his 14-year NBA career.

Following his playing career, West spent a successful three-year period as the head coach of the Lakers (1976-79, .589 winning percentage) and a brief three-year tenure as a consultant (1979-82, two NBA titles) with the team before transitioning full-time into the front office, where he spent a total of 18 years with the Lakers as General Manager/Executive VP of Basketball Operations. During his tenure at the helm of Basketball Operations in Los Angeles, the Lakers captured four (4) NBA Championships (1985, 1987, 1988, 2000) and appeared in the playoffs in 17 of 18 seasons. West’s most recent foray with an NBA team occurred in Memphis from 2002-2007, when he led the Grizzlies, who had previously never made the playoffs, to three consecutive post-season appearances (2004, 2005, 2006) as the team’s President of Basketball Operations.

Tim Kawakami

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It’s Jerry flippin’ West. I don’t care if he’s 92, he knows more about basketball, those who coach it and play it than anyone else in the Universe. He stays active following the game and has never been afraid to speak his mind. It’s time to shake things up.

Go Warriors

what time is the introduction Tim?

Johnny Catt

I don’t care, I think this is awesome! Figurehead or not, West is a winner, something that is foreign to the mindset of the Warriors front office.

C-Biscuit

Ummm, ya, he can. We just signed THE LOGO buddy… the man who is universally known as having the greatest wealth of basketball knowledge in the history of the NBA.

This is a big turning point in the restructuring of the front-office, especially considering the addition of Bob Meyers as GM heir-apparent. The same Bob Meyers that reps Marc Gasol, who West traded the rights for in the trade with his brother in Memphis. I think Marc’s coming to the Dubs when he hits free agency and it would be a great move. He’s 26, entering his prime, is 7-1, and showed this post-season that he’s turning into a nice little player who’s only getting better.

All good things… great day to be a dubs fan.

Go Warriors

I love this quote…..eat it COHAN!!

“as an executive and I know that you must have a commitment at the top to succeed. I sense that is certainly the case with the Warriors or I would not have made this decision.”

The Wisdom Cow

Lacob doing what it was Believed Ellison would have done is very pleasing. I pretty much assumed such a move was off the table because his bid competitor had the same idea. I am so glad he is not so shallow as to write off an idea that was not his or his cronies (you know Cohan would).

Still along way to go, but this was no baby step. It was a broad jump.

Justin Credible

Finally something good is happening for the Dubs.

He can somehow get dubs Bynum or Gasol

or he will screw the Dubs and send curry or Monta to the Lakers!

Stannn

He was hired in a non decision making position. Thats what the Warriors have been full of since 1994.
And KNBR says,West is being brought in to facilitate the move to San Francisco. Makes sense. West is here to grease the move for Lacob with his NBA squared connections. He’s not here to make any changes to what happens on the court.
Yes,its a good move for Lacob..for Warrior fan’s its a no move at all.

AJ

HELL YEAH!!!!

Don

Anyone who doesn’t think this is a good move for the Dubs is frankly, either dumb or a fool. This blog is a forum to love and complain about the state of the Warriors. Well today is a great move forward and it is mind boggling to me that people are nay saying even this. Why are you even Warrior fans really?

WorriedWarrior

Jerry West sensed a commitment to winning… also he sensed a boatload of cash being deposited in his bank account.

He joined the executive board. Which means he is probably not being paid but rather was given a percentage of the team in lieu of salary. So why? Did they not have the dough he wanted in Cash? Hence couldn’t afford to hire him as say, team president or President of B-ball ops? (Oh wait, we have one of those… he’s 22 and named Kirk)

Don’t get me wrong having jerry West around is a smart thing for any organization but how much is he actually going to be around with BOOBY Rowell still roaming the halls? Do you really think the logo will have the patients to deal with him and lackeys? Or vice-versa? Rowell seems to have an aversion to any one smarter to him and is there anything more frightening then a bitter/scared Rowell?

West will make a few suggestions on personnel, offer some introductions, and sit back a wait to cash out his sizable payday… IN LOS ANGELES.

Wake me when they start a round of meaningful firings. That’s when I’ll think things are changing.

Which brings me to my next point… Why are people like Rowell, Riley, Ridder, Fitzgerald, still employed in this organization? Oh, right, because they’re cheap.

Follow the money (or lack thereof) TK.

rockridge

Nice. Best Warrior news in a long time! Although I agree with #1 that I am a little concerned about his age. Is he in semi-retirement? Regardless it is a good move..

Now can we please finally fire Rowell and Riley?!?
Larry Riley’s opinion was needed to approve the hiring of Jerry West???… Come on — seriously???

Rowell and Riley couldn’t hold Myers’ and West’s jockstrap.. The last thing we need is their incompetence, bad vibes and Cohan-era ideas for some reason still lurking in the shadows of our front office..

qtlaw

You start at the top then move down.

We are talking about the Logo. He’s not a guy for a paycheck.

He’s only 72. My dad is 76 and he’s still got a lot to add. Show some respect.

rockridge

worried #13
Great post.. Concur 100%

Anonymous

Everyone knows that the Warriors would like to move back to SF, presumably to a downtown site. If West can help facillitate that move the ownership will be ecstatic.

But, the notion that West isn’t being brought in for legendary skill as a player-personnel talent evaluator and negotiator is foolish. Jerry West is the most storied GMs in NBA history. He personally assembled some of the greated collections of talent in NBA history. He was even able to get the frigging Memphis Grizzlies into the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history. He has a magic touch, and is probably the most respected basketball mind in NBA history.

Anyone who thinks that Lacob will not rely upon West’s advice in selecting his coach, in draft decisions, in trades, and in fashioning the target style of play for the team is, to be frank, just plain ignorant. Lacob has already had his entire basketball operations staff and ownership meet with West to receive his wisdom.

West is not being brought in to be figure-head, he’s being brought in to be the frigging GURU!

And don’t you guys get the significance of what Tim K wrote? He said: “One interesting point: He’s joining the executive board, which, to my knowledge, is made up of several of the minority investors. Is West a virtual minority investor now? Is he getting a (small) percentage? I don’t know.”

Tim is being obtuse. Jerry West has clearly been given some sort of ownership interest (which could take several different forms) — which was probably necessary to get him in on the deal — otherwise why add him to the executive board? Do you really think that West would want to be figurehead in those circumstances?

Lacob deserves serious kudos. He clearly spent one year evaluating the personnel he inherited, giving them a chance to see if they could justify their continued employment in Lacob’s eyes. Lacob’s decision to hire a new HC signals that he wants to build the Warriors in his own image, with a new style of play, under the direction of “his guy.” Lacob’s decision to hire a new GM in waiting signals that he wants to put in his own business management, but without completely disrupting the continuity of the organization. Lacob’s decision to hire West clearly signals he wants to put in place his own player personnel decision-making team.

In short, Lacob is methodically transforming the Warriors into “his franchise,” but, he’s doing so in a way that is not disruptive and won’t lose him institutional knowledge about the team’s history that might have some value. This is how wise businessmen remake a business. Not a panic’d house cleaning, a methodical thoughtful make-over. This is how you fashion long-term success, as opposed to short-term PR to sell tickets. Lacob is playing a long game. And he sure appears to be doing it right.

Anonymous

Worried Warrior,

Your speculation ignores the reality of the NBA. No doubt that Jerry West is well-compensated. To hire a guy like him you need to pay good money. Conveying equity to a front office guy, as I agree the Warriors appear to have done, is relatively rare. That Lacob did so shows his commitment to turning the franchise around. That West took it shows that West felt that the Warriors were a legit asset play and he believes he can increase the value of the asset. And the best way to do that is to make the team better.

Rowell is dead man walking. If you can’t see that you are just plain blind. Lacob’s moves make perfect business sense. Get your successor in place, preserve the institutional knowledge that needs to be preserved, and change the job to fit the talents of an employee that has proven an example of the Peter Principle.

Most importantly, Lacob is proving he will run his business in the strongest way possible, without succumbing to the fans sense of panic. I really have to applaud Lacob. This is the first time I’ve ever thought that the Warriors might have a good future.

WorriedWarrior

Anonymous,

Obviously the Warriors will accrue interest – they’re in a mid to large market and have a rabid fan-base that would sell out their arena if the roof was on fire. Throw in a possible/project move to SF around 2020 and the all the investors, including West, will be sitting pretty when it comes time to sell. My guess is that West has a clause that says the board will buy out his shares upon request so he won’t have to wait to sell.

And like I said, I don’t question the merits of adding someone like West to any organization. But why not give him a role with some teeth? And some decision making power? And as for institution knowledge that is true only if you want to retain said knowledge or if the next guy in the succession line has no previous knowledge. This is not the case with West. We don’t want Rowell’s institutional “knowledge”. None of it. From marketing a “great time out” over seeing a quality basketball team to backstabbing his own personnel in an outrageous power-grab to blowing countless relationships with innumerable agents to creating an insulting, PR bubble to protect the ship from any and all questioning of “how things are done”. And I won’t even mention those rags they call uniforms he’s got the team in. There is very little from the previous 20 years I want to keep or want my new guys learning.

Lacob is a smart businessman and is capable of some shrewd decisions and honestly I don’t think its his desire that’s handicapping him. Its his lack of capital and, perhaps less so, his own lack of institutional knowledge that is tying his hands. And i definitely don’t want any of those gaps filled in by Rowell and Riley. My only hope is that West can scream loud enough to drown out the clowns that, for whatever reason, still find themselves under the employ of the Golden State Warriors.

WorriedWarrior

Left this on the wrong TK post the first time…

Anonymous,

Sorry, didn’t finish my first paragraph thought. It was that yes, this is a great deal for West. He is going to make out like a bandit and will have to do little in return. And West is smart enough and shrewed enough to know a good thing when he sees it (especially when is drives up to house with a dump-truck full of money). But West won’t have the decision-making power to truly effect change. I know the real power falls on Lacob now but there’s still a lot of knuckleheads around with with lofty titles in positions of power – even if that power is somewhat neutered.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, because of the nature of this hire and the lack of other hires like it, the scales still tip in favor of the knuckleheads. And that’s still bad news for Warriors fans.

Anonymous

You state: “I don’t question the merits of adding someone like West to any organization. But why not give him a role with some teeth? And some decision making power?”

My comment: Because Jerry West clearly didn’t want that role. He clearly would rather be the guru able to have wide ranging input without the day to day responsibilities. That’s all this “without decision making” power statement means. He’s a consultant. Which means, that like with any consultant, his advice can be ignored. But, in this case, he’s not a consultant to the GM, he’s a consultant to the owners. That speaks volumes. What speaks more loudly is that even before he they inked a contract, according to the press release, Lacob has been seeking his advice and had his whole basketball operations staff personally meeting with him to receive his wisdom.

On what? Obviously the HC vacancy, the draft, and the future style of play. Obviously, Lacob has to figure out what kind of team he wants, and then hire a HC who fits that philosophy (e.g. you don’t hire Nelson if you want a team that can play defense), and start getting the right personnel.

My comment: I think Lacob is a smarter businessman than you or the other message board yahoos who are calling for heads to roll just because they hate the past. You can remain pessimistic, but the time to judge Lacob is not now. The real judgment time will be a few years down the road. I think we’ll all look back and be real happy with Lacob’s moves.

My comment: I think Lacob is a smarter businessman than you or the other message board yahoos who are calling for heads to roll just because they hate the past. You can remain pessimistic, but the time to judge Lacob is not now. The real judgment time will be a few years down the road. I think we’ll all look back and be real happy with Lacob’s moves.

—

My business acumen aside, I am not calling for “heads to roll” because “I hate the past”. There are tangible reasons why Rowell, above all shouldn’t be in this organization (I short-listed them above but for a more through read, I suggest you find TK’s article on him circa 2007). And I am not saying judge Lacob, judge Lacob now, he’s a failure. I am only questioning the merits (and/or possible reasons why — ie lack of capital) of keeping on board those who have been responsible for both the insulating and short-sightedness of this franchise when better options are out there.

I love the Warriors, I want them to do well but I am also not blind to the mountain that lies before them in getting there. And I am no mountain climber but I am going to say that if the day comes when I find myself one day doing such a thing you can be damned sure I am going to find the Jerry Wests of mountain climbing and put them behind me and not the Bobby Rowells of the world.

That’s all I’m saying.

rufusporter

All very valid points. Jerry West’s inclusion to the Warriors executive team is analogous to the Niners re-hiring Bill Walsh in an advisory role; albeit with more clout (w/Lacob and Gruber’s backing and team equity). Does that mean Rowell/Riley is Terry Donohue in this analogy?

My take on the new owner’s moves this past are:
* Any Warriors’ fan can see that a coaching change was needed with Nelson; his players were clearly not responding to him any longer.

* New ownership did not have much time to evaluate the 2010/11 team and bring in a new coach and implement a new system. Continuity with an entertaining and crowd drawing style was the palatable choice.

* Lacob/Gruber sincerely used the past season to evaluate the entrenched management and learn basketball operations. They did not want to irresponsibly remove Rowell, who has been running a basketball operations that has been profitable despite decades of losing and a terrible economy. It didn’t make any sense to make any personnel changes because neither owner had experience running a basketball organization nor a team. Now they do! They probably learned:
– Warrior fans are rabid knowledgeable basketball fans and does not
need to be heavily marketed to. That marketing acumen can be
provided with the more successful Peter Gruber, the entertainment
mogul.
– Kirk Lacob was brought in to learn and run the business
operations side; Rowell’s job.
– Bob Myer’s was brought in to because of his agent and GM connects
and repoire with current players who can help the Warriors in the
short term. Will take over Riley’s job.
– Jerry West was brought in for his credibility, talent evaluation, team-
building skill. He won’t be involved in the day-to-day, but like Bill
Walsh will be leaned on to mentor and help create a foundation to
become a sustainable winning franchise.

As a Warrior fan I love this move! I know after the hollow winter of 17+ years, it’s not easy for us to trust even ourselves of good Warriors news. There are some who don’t trust a 72 year old basketball lifer helping the Warriors become successful. But, let me ask the forum this:

If you had money to invest, would you trust an 80 or even 86 year old investment legend to manage your money. I would! Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger can be on the Executive Board to handle rufusporter’s money any and every day!

WorriedWarrior

Rufusporter,

All excellent points. Thanks!

Except with Kirk, I don’t think he’s running things… yet. I think team president is where he will eventually wind up — but he’s also only 22. Which makes those influencing him/teaching him all the more important. Do you want him to run things like Jerry West or do you want him to run things like Bobby Rowell?

And you’re right, age doesn’t factor into this at all. He’s a legend with a lot of good years left — 72 is nothing. Anyone who thinks he’s too old to make a difference is probably too young to wipe his/her own butt.

Sir Veyza

What position does he play?

rufusporter

@Sir Veyza –

“Finally! Jerry West has come to replace Monta at shooting guard!”

— re-tweeted from Twitter.

rufusporter

@WorriedWarrior – Agreed about Kirk Lacob’s age. However, if were not going to dismiss someone because of older age, we should not dismiss someone who is younger as well. Unlike most people, Kirk has had the best apprenticeship: rags-to-riches father, great formal education, growing basketball operations experience (Suns & Warriors), and great mentors to solicit advise from: daddy, daddy’s investment friends, daddy’s friends from the Celtics, friends from the Suns, Bob Myers, Bob Myer’s friends, Jerry West, Jerry West, and Jerry West.

You pointed out in your first post a nugget of fear/suspicion that Jerry West’s loyalties remain with the Lakers no matter the cash/equity he receives from the Warriors. HOPEFULLY, West’s vague responsibilities and clout are Lacob/Gruber/Myer’s way of mollifying their own anxieties of West’s deep loyalties as well.

WorriedWarrior

rufusporter,

Very true. And by making West part of the ownership group Lacob’s tied his purse strings to their/the teams success and, I would think, ultimate ability to move to a more lucrative arena in SF. No doubt, they want Jerry West greasing those wheels, among others, with his considerable influence.

There are some things to be excited about in this deal, no doubt — I hate to alway be the rain on the parade around here. I just don’t like that there’s still a lot of bad blood floating around the veins of the organization. It keeps me from going full-on, super-fan crazy about these moves.

rufusporter

WorriedWarrior,

Let’s hope the Warriors’ new ownership strategic long-term moves mirror what Bill Neukom’s arrival did to the Giants.

Remember when the Giants had an awful farm system, hungover from the Bonds era, a pitchers park revolted by free agent hitter, and a team of nobodies. Neukom’s arrival made the entire organization evaluate what kind of organization and team they want to build in the future. They made their farm system a focus and stole away top Dodger talent evaluator John Barr and have been richly rewarded by 4 young prime starters, league’s best closer, ROY, and talent at 1B and 3B.

Our collective hope is that Lacob/Gruber saw what the Warriors’ organization lacked: a competitive advantage personnel-wise and a plan. Bob Myers is recognized as one of the best player agents and Jerry West is considered the best talent evaluator in the past 30 years. As a Dubs fan, I’m looking forward to taking joy to the road to basketball relevance.

warriordiehard

bring back Tamela.

Mike

We now have creidability. Everyone in the league will take the Warriors’ calls and listen.
Wow